Koestu original Onyx Sig pre-platinum cart vs. later/current platinum Sig comparisons

'Stratus seekers for status seekers' is the way I once heard someone describe Koetsu cartridges. As in 'somewhat cloudy, misty and warm sounding' having an irresistable attraction to people who believe that buying a Koetsu is the entry ticket to some exclusive club. It's the same kind of pride of ownership you can observe with other luxury brand goods. There's nothing wrong with that of course, but it's a lifestyle thing and has very little to do with the sound quality.

I acquired a Koetsu Onyx some time ago (no 'P' in the serial number, so presumably a pre platinum version) to find out for myself what all the fuss is about. I still haven't a clue, although I've tried all I could to make it sing. It's been installed in 5 different tonearms, in voltage and current gain amplification devices, in 2 different SUT's (one copper wired, the other silver) and with a wide variety of headshells, leadwires and tonearm cables (balanced as well as unbalanced). But no matter what I did, to some extend it would always sound congested and with a limited bandwidth. I have to assume this is their sonic imprint which sticks to it like white on rice (or brown as it turns out). Apparently there are a lot of folks who (think they) like it that way. I don't, but at least I satisfied my curiosity. Exit Koetsu.

I’m very late to this discussion. For what it is worth:
 

I’ve used Koetsu almost exclusively for 40 years. 

the Black for 20

the rosewood signature for 8

the non platinum onyx for 12

for 15 months, I’ve had a Leopard platinum. I’d rotate it with the onyx while it was breaking in. The Leopard was faster, had better bass. The onyx did everything else better. Then, during the last two weeks, after 350 hours of break in, the Leopard suddenly took off and is quite improved over the non platinum onyx in about every way. 

What do you mean by, "faster"?   Is this perhaps nothing more than greater delineation?   Such greater accuracy and detail might give the illusion of "faster" by simply making one think that the musician is moving faster on the guitar, violin, keyboard, drums, etc., as more distinct notes can now be heard.